thedrifter
07-27-07, 06:33 AM
All signs indicating unit about to deploy
JENNIFER HLAD
July 27, 2007 - 12:15AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
For the last week or so, there's been a rush on marriage licenses.
Most of the couples take their license from the register of deeds office and head right next door to the magistrate's office, said Lisa Thompson, assistant register of deeds.
The reason for the rush? Another impending deployment.
"You can pretty much tell in here when something's going on," Thompson said. "You can tell when somebody's coming back or leaving."
At Stop & Pawn on Marine Boulevard, manager Chris Heath said he's noticed a lot of Marines coming in to sell belongings before they deploy with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit - which is slated to push off soon.
The unit's spokesman has not released information about exactly when the MEU will deploy and he offered no comment Thursday.
For many Marines, it's easier to sell things now and buy new items later, Heath said, rather than find a place to store everything. Others sell car stereo equipment before they store their cars, he said, or sell things they are afraid will get broken or stolen.
"(Shortly) before, I really notice an uptick," he said.
The increase at Uncle Bob's Self Storage on Center Street started in 2001 - when the first Gulf War began - and it hasn't let up much, manager Cyrus James said.
When an MEU gets back, the Marines will come get their things, and the store will lose 40 to 50 customers, James said. But then the next crew comes in, he said, and numbers are back up again.
"It's just been an ongoing cycle since 2001," he said.
Contact Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, ext. 8449. To comment on this story, visit www.jdnews.com.
Ellie
JENNIFER HLAD
July 27, 2007 - 12:15AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
For the last week or so, there's been a rush on marriage licenses.
Most of the couples take their license from the register of deeds office and head right next door to the magistrate's office, said Lisa Thompson, assistant register of deeds.
The reason for the rush? Another impending deployment.
"You can pretty much tell in here when something's going on," Thompson said. "You can tell when somebody's coming back or leaving."
At Stop & Pawn on Marine Boulevard, manager Chris Heath said he's noticed a lot of Marines coming in to sell belongings before they deploy with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit - which is slated to push off soon.
The unit's spokesman has not released information about exactly when the MEU will deploy and he offered no comment Thursday.
For many Marines, it's easier to sell things now and buy new items later, Heath said, rather than find a place to store everything. Others sell car stereo equipment before they store their cars, he said, or sell things they are afraid will get broken or stolen.
"(Shortly) before, I really notice an uptick," he said.
The increase at Uncle Bob's Self Storage on Center Street started in 2001 - when the first Gulf War began - and it hasn't let up much, manager Cyrus James said.
When an MEU gets back, the Marines will come get their things, and the store will lose 40 to 50 customers, James said. But then the next crew comes in, he said, and numbers are back up again.
"It's just been an ongoing cycle since 2001," he said.
Contact Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, ext. 8449. To comment on this story, visit www.jdnews.com.
Ellie